Jane Prestwich Schumacher was born Feb. 19, 1929 in Wilmington, Del., daughter of Sydney and Esther Prestwich. She died peacefully at home on Feb. 4, 2017.

Jane had a rich, full and healthy life. She was married for almost 64 years to her best friend and constant companion, Carl P. Schumacher, raised two children, traveled the world, and volunteered throughout her life in the communities where she lived.

She graduated with a bachelor of arts from Duke University in 1951 and taught third grade for a year in Ohio before moving back to Wilmington where she worked at the DuPont Company in market research for textile fibers.

She married Carl in 1953. After a short time living in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, they moved to Kirkwood (St. Louis), Mo. They spent 30 years in Kirkwood and raised two daughters: Nancy Jane Stream from Lindenhurst (Chicago), Ill., married to Chris Stream, and Janet Schumacher McElroy from Kirkwood (St. Louis), Mo. married to John McElroy.

Jane was an active volunteer in the Kirkwood area where she was a Girl Scout leader, a driver for Meals on Wheels and an avid supporter of her daughters in their school activities.

In 1978, Jane and Carl moved to Sau Paulo, Brazil with the Monsanto Company where Carl worked for 35 years. They spent two years there, enjoying the people and culture, traveling extensively around South America and forming lifelong friendships.

In 1987 they retired to the foothills of Western North Carolina. They settled in Tryon where they participated in the many opportunities offered by their new community. Jane was president of the Tryon Country Club Women’s Golf; president of Green Blades Garden Club; a volunteer at the Thermal Belt Outreach, St. Luke’s Hospital, and AFS student exchange.

As a member of Holy Cross Episcopal Church, she worked as an office volunteer and usher until her death. Jane and Carl loved Tryon and eventually settled in Tryon Estates where Jane served on various committees to support the community.

Throughout their retirement, Jane and Carl continued to explore the world together. Jane was a diligent memory keeper and compiled detailed journals of their trips which she used to create photo travelogues that were regularly shared at family gatherings. Jane also excelled at the lost art of the hand-written letter which enabled her to keep in touch with the hundreds of friends they met in their various communities and during their travels. Jane had a wonderful sense of humor; she never met a stranger and had a smile and kind word for everyone she met.

Jane is survived by her husband, Carl, daughters Nancy and Janet, and two grandsons, Carl Edward Stream and David Prestwich Stream.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2 p.m., at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 150 Melrose Avenue, Tryon, NC 28782. The family requests that memorials be made to Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, or American Heart Association.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel
Tryon, N.C.